Eddy Curry didn’t mind playing 42 minutes in his Knicks debut on Wednesday.

Despite having been out for the final month of last season with an irregular heartbeat, Curry said he needed to be on the court as much as he was in the 114-100 overtime loss in Boston.

“When you’ve missed as much time as I did and been out that long, the only way to get your game back is to get out there and play,” Curry said before making his first Knicks start at the Garden last night against the Wizards. “It doesn’t matter how much training you do before the season.”

Curry was fairly effective against the Celtics, but fell off after halftime, something that may have been due to his riding an exercise bicycle the day of the game.

Knicks coach Larry Brown found Curry during his routine and later decided it wasn’t such a good idea for the center.

“He started off fine with it,” Curry said. “But then it looked like I was dragging near the end of the game. I just wanted to get some extra work in. I’ve got to be more wise about it.”

Curry, who finished with 19 points and eight boards against the Celtics, hopes that the added work pays off during the season and he can fill the void in the paint that has been left virtually vacant since Patrick Ewing departed the Knicks.

Although the 6-11 Curry had played at the Garden prior to last night, he said there would be a difference now that he was on the home team.

“There’s always been an aura about this place, the Garden,” Curry said. “It was just like any other city, until you got here.”

Now, Curry will be wearing the same uniform at MSG as legendary figures like Ewing and Willis Reed.

“I try not to think about that when I’m on the court, I try to stay focused,” Curry said. “But obviously, in the back of your mind, it’s always there.”

After having been virtually run out of Chicago by a Bulls organization that was both worried about his health and how much he would be worth once he became a free agent, Curry said he feels wanted with the Knicks. He hasn’t had much time, however, to explore Manhattan to see just how popular he has become.

“Every day, there’s something going on that we have to do and I’m working as hard as I can to get into the shape I need to, so I haven’t really been out yet,” Curry said. “We’ll see how they respond.”